Personnel challenges ahead for OPM leadership

By Andrew Wagner | Published Sunday, March 11, 2018

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The Trump administration has some priorities for the new leadership at the Office of Personnel Management. The Senate recently confirmed Jeff Pon and Michael Rigas as OPM director and deputy director, respectively. Their primary goal for now is a daunting one: reduce the federal workforce.

“They’ve gone through a long confirmation process,” said Dan Blair, former OPM deputy director and senior counselor at Bipartisan Policy Center. “On the one hand that’s very frustrating, but on the other hand, it gave them ample time to prepare and be ready for day one when they take charge.”

The FY19 budget request is one document that will be guiding the new leadership as they settle into their new roles. Blair believes that because Pon has worked in the federal government, he has an advantage to organizing OPM.

“He was part of the E-Government team at OPM during the George W. Bush administration,” Blair told Government Matters. “I worked closely with Jeff and I have great respect for him. I’m excited for his leadership.”